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Post by terry on Aug 26, 2023 14:21:00 GMT
I’m sure your usual CFF flies would be fine although may I suggest a black klink and of course the mandatory deers or elk hair sedge both in 16s. For the philistines like me who sometimes (dare I say it ) fish wet flies then a hackled pheasant tail and a coachman are a must. They’re not too choosy really except on the days that I go.
I’m enjoying keeping this conversation going although I should be mowing the lawn.
I’m sure Johnny will have some more sensible ideas but I wouldn’t bother with the duo rubbish up there.
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Post by boisker on Aug 26, 2023 19:16:57 GMT
Having not fished Dartmoor for 3 years I can’t really comment… made worse by the fact I predominantly fished a Kelly Galloup cripple the 2 trips this year (plus an emerger briefly and a x-caddis) which I’d never fished before on Dartmoor😏
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Post by halfstoned on Aug 26, 2023 20:02:00 GMT
Having not fished Dartmoor for 3 years I can’t really comment… made worse by the fact I predominantly fished a Kelly Galloup cripple the 2 trips this year (plus an emerger briefly and a x-caddis) which I’d never fished before on Dartmoor😏 Thanks boisker, I've actually tied up some cripples after your recommendation and caughg some fish from the Yeo with them👍 I must admit I can't bend the hook with my hands like he does (I use a multi tool) he must have a vice like grip! |
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Post by boisker on Aug 27, 2023 8:45:15 GMT
I can bend them in the vice, although on a size 18, the bend closer to the eye is very challenging… what type hooks were you bending? I predominantly use light wire hooks tiemco and fulling mill, not sure how easy a heavier wire would be…🙂
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Post by halfstoned on Aug 27, 2023 9:59:33 GMT
I've pretty much settled on the Hanak h130bl for my dry flies, not sure why I just like the look of them. They are a fine wire hook so perhaps they are tempered differently (or I need to man up).
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Post by johnesmithson on Aug 27, 2023 13:33:04 GMT
I’m sure your usual CFF flies would be fine although may I suggest a black klink and of course the mandatory deers or elk hair sedge both in 16s. For the philistines like me who sometimes (dare I say it ) fish wet flies then a hackled pheasant tail and a coachman are a must. They’re not too choosy really except on the days that I go. I’m enjoying keeping this conversation going although I should be mowing the lawn. I’m sure Johnny will have some more sensible ideas but I wouldn’t bother with the duo rubbish up there. Having not fished Dartmoor for 3 years I can’t really comment… made worse by the fact I predominantly fished a Kelly Galloup cripple the 2 trips this year (plus an emerger briefly and a x-caddis) which I’d never fished before on Dartmoor😏 I agree with that selection Terry, and would also add in black F fly, Adams, Griffith’s Gnat and Hoppers (black or ginger). On the whole a well presented anything will do the trick, but I’ve definitely had sessions where you need to work out the right fly for the day. Also agree with you about Duo, at least on the skinny upper streams but it can work a treat on the main E and W Darts. As for wet fly, that’s another world of experimentation and no one has mentioned streamers yet…! |
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Post by terry on Aug 27, 2023 15:59:21 GMT
Let me the first. Fished the west dart last week in high water and tried a couple of streamers in some swollen pools but apart from hitting my beloved 4 weight rod I had nothing. Changed to a wet fly ( a size 12 black pennell with a tungsten bead head) and surprisingly had a nice 10” fish in very good condition first cast.
Will definitely try a streamer again if we have another lift in the water but I’m not sure it’s really me. That’s until I catch on one of course.
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Post by halfstoned on Aug 30, 2023 16:46:41 GMT
Finally made it to the cherrybrook today a mere 33 years after reading Mr Weavers book and seeing that photo. I'll put a short report up later when I've lifted a few pictures from the Gopro. You can tell from that that it was tough.
Just looking at filling out the return and it says "largest length" but no scale, I assume its centimetres not inches?
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Post by johnesmithson on Aug 30, 2023 17:53:50 GMT
Finally made it to the cherrybrook today a mere 33 years after reading Mr Weavers book and seeing that photo. I'll put a short report up later when I've lifted a few pictures from the Gopro. You can tell from that that it was tough. Just looking at filling out the return and it says "largest length" but no scale, I assume its centimetres not inches? Looking forward to seeing your report Chris. Centimetres I’m afraid! |
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Post by halfstoned on Aug 30, 2023 18:23:39 GMT
I managed about a dozen wbt from the lower stretch, from the West Dart junction with Cherrybrook up to the bridge but only a couple of fingerlings from the stretch above the bridge. It was tough, downstream wind which I struggled against all day and apart from a brief hatch of I think pale wateries not much fly life to speak of. Saw about 5 fish rise three of which I managed to tempt but only connected with two of them, these feeding fish proved to be the best of the day at about 8" to 9". It is a stunning place though, much more weed than on the Dartmoor stream that I fish and some proper deep pools, it must hold some good fish on the right day? Maybe the last day of August isn't the best time to make my first visit here, I will definitely return next season, quite fancy trying the blackbrook next. Some pictures    For those that choose to watch I'll try and edit something for the weekend. |
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Post by halfstoned on Aug 30, 2023 18:44:06 GMT
Finally made it to the cherrybrook today a mere 33 years after reading Mr Weavers book and seeing that photo. I'll put a short report up later when I've lifted a few pictures from the Gopro. You can tell from that that it was tough. Just looking at filling out the return and it says "largest length" but no scale, I assume its centimetres not inches? Looking forward to seeing your report Chris. Centimetres I’m afraid! Cheers John, so my 9" fish = 22.86 cm good to know🤔 |
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Post by johnesmithson on Aug 30, 2023 21:36:29 GMT
Well done Chris, I'd say that was a par score, especially considering the wind that you had to contend with. I've fished the Cherry three times in the last month and haven't done any better than that. But I did spook a couple of good fish in the lower river which would have needed at least a 30cm tape measure!
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rich
New Member
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Post by rich on Aug 30, 2023 23:20:50 GMT
I knew someone had been through it before me today!!!!
I must have missed you I could tell it had been fished through by someone else.
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Post by halfstoned on Aug 31, 2023 9:16:09 GMT
It's a very different stream to the little one I normally fish, loads of weed and banks of gravel. A sort of moorland chalkstream in appearance. The place was absolutely teeming with fry, I expect if your a big old trout it would take a decent hatch of fly to bring you on the feed, otherwise you could just hide out during the day and come out for a munch on these undercover of darkness. A streamer on a clearing flood might be interesting??
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Post by johnesmithson on Aug 31, 2023 16:11:19 GMT
Just as you say Chris, the fry numbers have been fantastic in some places. In fact I put up a photo of one sizeable shoal from the Cherry Brook on my Fish Pass catch return just a few weeks back. It must augur well for future seasons. And I also agree that they must be irresistible to those old stagers that can't find or eat enough insects to maintain their condition. I've met other anglers on the Moor who are convinced that the bigger fish are preferential fry feeders. Which explains why they sometimes get caught at night by sea trout fishermen using tube flies (I've done that more than once on the West Dart). And that makes me wonder whether we aren't missing a trick here, as you are perhaps suggesting: how about fishing some of the bigger moorland pools in the dark with a streamer...now that could be exciting!
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Post by halfstoned on Aug 31, 2023 16:51:31 GMT
I wonder if you'd need a migratory licence to fish at night John, I remember reading in Nicholas Fittons book about "bustard" fishing which appears to be night fishing for brown trout. Surely if there's a chance of catching Seatrout you would need the more expensive licence, makes you wonder about streamer fishing during the day?
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Post by terry on Aug 31, 2023 18:22:13 GMT
I agree with regard to fry numbers, particularly on the cherry brook, I can’t recall ever seeing the numbers I witnessed on Wednesday. I’m amazed at my reluctance in having a go with a streamer, not sure why ? It’s strange I’ll flog away for hours with a dry fly but if a streamer doesn’t seem to work after 5 minutes I’ll pack it in.
Note to self:- persevere and watch the dreaded tungsten bead on the rod !!!
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Post by johnesmithson on Aug 31, 2023 19:47:37 GMT
With regard to the licence Chris, I have had a look at the Fish Pass app and I can't see any regulations that would rule it out, but I guess the thing to do is ask James, the Angling Development Officer. If I was going to give the night-time streamer lark a go I would confine myself to pools which don't get sea trout until spawning time (i.e. Cherry, Blackbrook and East Dart). In contrast, the idea of chucking a streamer into the lower West Dart after dark on trout gear fills me with dread about what might grab it! Many years ago, in the wee small hours of a calm summer night when I was on my own at Brakey Furze pool, I hadn't touched a thing with wet flies and tubes in the neck and tail (the usual hot spots). So before packing it in, and more out of curiosity than expectation, I decided to twitch a Falkus Sunk Lure through a deep section in the belly of the pool on a slow sinker. Something absolutely huge erupted from the water, thrashed about a bit and threw the hook. I was honestly a bit scared about having that thing staying attached to my 7 weight rod, even though I was fishing for sea trout! I walked back to the car feeling a bit chastened.
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Post by halfstoned on Aug 31, 2023 20:08:08 GMT
Great story John, I bet that got the adrenaline flowing!
That was one of the things I forgot to mention, with all that clean gravel the cherrybrook should be an excellent spawning site? I'm sure I heard the Dart system was struggling a bit re Salmon/Seatrout numbers, is there any sort of smolt tagging project on the Dart?
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Post by johnesmithson on Aug 31, 2023 20:58:23 GMT
Not sure Chris but I will make some enquiries
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